A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Chapter 919: Meeting the Young Manager of Ren'an Hall Again

Gui'er asked curiously, "Isn't the second floor a warehouse?"

Ah Cheng smiled and said, "That's a lie. Of course, there are two rooms here, and some worthless items will be placed here. However, the valuable items will be kept in the basement under the counter on the first floor. Originally, Brother Qiang wanted to buy a better one, but he found out that the previous owner had built a basement to increase space, so he immediately decided to buy this place. Then he claimed to the public that the basement was sealed off, but in fact, he changed the entrance to make it more secretive. The original owner has already immigrated to Malaya and is said to be not returning, so it is even more confidential."

"Is Little Angkor on guard against someone plotting something bad?"

"Need I tell you, Miss? After all, we are new here and have no roots here. It's not quite the same as Jiangcheng."

At this time, Wu Mingqiang also came up from downstairs. He said happily, "It seems that opening this pawnshop is a good idea. Although the items pawned here are not particularly valuable, we have received several orders since the opening. The young lady is visiting. In fact, there is a third floor here. I set up two beds here for two men to keep watch at night. Although the place is not big, it is enough. What do you think, young lady?"

Gui'er said, "I don't understand these things either. You can make the decision."

At this time, there seemed to be a noisy sound coming from downstairs. Ah Cheng said, "I'll go down and take a look. You guys chat."

After Wu Mingqiang waited for Ah Cheng to go down, he took out a small box from the inside pocket of his suit.

"Miss, I was so busy running around when I returned to Shanghai that I didn't have time to pick out a gift for you. So on the day I came back, I bought you a lipstick from a foreign store in the concession. Do you like it?"

Guier took a look and saw some floral patterns engraved on the golden metal tube and English on the lid, so it should be imported. When she opened the lid, she saw a rose-red lipstick with a faint floral scent.

"Thank you, Brother Wu." Guier knew that the lipstick was very valuable, but she didn't want to dress up at all right now. All she wanted to do was to be as low-key as possible in life and not attract other people's attention. Her current identity was equivalent to that of an orphan in Hong Kong.

"Miss, don't worry about your livelihood. I will work hard to earn more money, and our house will surely prosper." Wu Mingqiang said sincerely.

Guier smiled and said, "Actually, it doesn't matter how much money I make. I have a part-time job now, and when I finish my studies, I'll be able to become a doctor. The income should be good, and the difficulties are only temporary. I'm just worried about my relatives and friends in Jiangcheng."

"Miss, you are worried about this. We have many fellow countrymen from Jiangcheng here. I will ask someone to find out later."

When the two came down from upstairs, the store was already open for business as usual. The waiter Chen De was busy at the counter, and two waiters were busy pouring tea and water for some customers who were dressed in luxurious clothes and looked rich, and leading them into the private rooms.

"Isn't this Miss Sha? Nice to meet you again. Is this pawn shop owned by your family?"

Guier looked in the direction of the sound and saw a man in a suit walking in from outside. She seemed to have some impression of him, but she couldn't remember where she had seen him.

"Miss, you are so forgetful. We met on the train. I am the young master of Ren'an Hall."

"Oh, it's the young master. Look at my memory." Gui'er remembered that the young master of Ren'antang gave her a business card. She thought that since they were fellow villagers, they could contact each other more often. However, after she came here, she was busy with many things and actually forgot about it.

She quickly said to Wu Mingqiang, "This is the young master of Ren'an Hall whom I met on the train when I came from Jiangcheng. They also opened a branch in Hong Kong."

Wu Mingqiang quickly greeted him with a smile, "Young Master, please take a seat in the private room. We're all from the same hometown, so we can catch up. Are you just passing by today?"

The young master hurriedly bowed politely and followed them to the private room to sit down.

"Our shop is right in front of us. I heard that Guibaohao opened and threw coins in the street. It was so grand, I couldn't help but come to take a look. I didn't expect it to be from the same hometown."

"Young Master, how are you? How's the business in the store?" Guier asked curiously.

"The small shop is barely able to maintain its business. This shop is so grand, Miss. I think it must be well-funded."

Wu Mingqiang smiled and said, "Young Master, you're too polite. I'm just trying to make a living. If you need anything pawned or loaned, since we're from the same hometown, you can give our shop priority."

Gui'er felt a little embarrassed. She felt that pawning and lending in this era were both exploitative industries. Why would anyone pawn something unless they were desperate or struggling to make ends meet? However, with an outsider present, she couldn't say anything to Wu Mingqiang.

"Well, I'm ashamed to say that this steward saw it right away. I came here to pawn some things and wanted to take a look at the situation first."

"What does the young master want to pawn? Our shop will definitely give you a preferential price." Before Gui'er could be surprised, Wu Mingqiang started to act like a businessman.

"Well, miss, I'll tell you the truth. When I came to Hong Kong before, I brought a batch of medicinal herbs and silver, but it was far from enough. Later, my hometown sent a batch of medicinal herbs here, but these precious herbs were robbed by bandits on the way. Although I have contacted my hometown and asked them to send another batch, I'm afraid it won't be so fast. So, I have to raise money to buy them nearby. Otherwise, when customers come to the store, many prescriptions will not be able to get all the medicines. How can this business continue?" The young owner said with a frown.

"I see. I wonder what the young master is planning to sell it for? I will definitely ask Chaofeng to give you a preferential price." Wu Mingqiang said tactfully.

"This..." The young master was silent for a moment.

Gui'er and Wu Mingqiang both realized that although the young master wanted to raise money, he probably didn't have anything valuable.

"If the young master doesn't have any valuables, then herbs will do, like ginseng and fish maw. I know a little about these. If that doesn't work, your family's unique recipe will do. Our young lady is interested in studying medicine, so it wouldn't be unfair to give it to her."

"Brother Wu, don't talk nonsense." Gui'er stopped him quickly. She couldn't do such a shameless thing.

"Excuse me, young lady and the manager. I left Hong Kong in such a hurry that I didn't bring anything valuable with me. Now that you've reminded me, I do have two 50-year-old ginseng sticks in my shop. They've been stored in my hometown for a long time, and most customers wouldn't buy them easily. I wonder how much they're worth?"